Ebonyi Airport Runway: Nwifuru Gives Reasons For Contract Review.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state on Thursday said the upward review of the contract sum for the reconstruction of the runway of the Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, Ebonyi State was due to the current economic instability in the country.

Nwifuru gave the explanation Thursday during an inspection tour to ascertain the level of work at the Airport runway.

The inspection tour of the airport and other projects across the State was part of activities lined up in commemoration of the Governor's one year in office.

He further explained that the issue of regulation, milling and scarification of the previously existing runway built with concrete pavement were not covered in the initial contract.

Recall that the contract was initially awarded at the cost of N13.7 billion.

Nwifuru, while speaking at the project site said the interplay of the above factors necessitated the upward review of the contract sum to N17 billion.

Nwifuru said: Due to the issue of our currency; the fluctuations, this job wanted to stop if not for the understand between us and the contractor.

"When he started giving us skeletal services, we disagreed, and he called for upward review.

"The job was awarded initially at N13.735 billion.
"The total square metre is above 220,000, and the total tonne is about 82,000.

"The total area covered is 3,100, that is 3.1 Km multiplied by 75 metres.

The review brought the job to N17. 8 billion, out of which over N15 billion has been paid the contractor, remaining only N1billion plus."

While commending the contractor for his competence and job quality, he further explained that the reconstruction followed the discovery that the initial concrete pavement adopted in building the runway was not fit for flight landing.

Recall that the Airport which was constructed by the immediate past administration in the state gulped the sum of N36 billion. It was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari towards the end of the administration, by Umahi's invitation.

The airport received few test flight operations under Umahi before it was sealed following the failure of the runway to meet the safety standard for flight landing.

Receiving the Governor at the site, The state supervisory engineer, Emmanuel Okoro, commended the Governor for timely release of funds to the contacting firm which has facilitated speedy execution of the project.

Okoro said the runway and other projects of the Governor scattered all over the state were in tandem with his campaign promises of making Ebonyi the envy of other states.

Speaking on the pace of work, the contractor assured that the runway would be fully completed in the next ten days.

Other projects inspected by the Governor included some of the ongoing 67 number Duplexes for traditional rulers across the state, some of the ongoing 39 special secondary schools, the revamped state pipe production company, the ongoing housing estate for Izzo and Amaeze Communities in Ezillo, Ishielu Local government area and the 23km Ogbaja road out of which 7 kilometers have been completed, among others.